Description

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
"Los Angeles Times "Book Prize Finalist
"New York Times "bestseller
Before. Miles Pudge Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the Great Perhaps even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .
After. Nothing is ever the same.
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Review quote

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults Top 10
An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers
A 2005 "Booklist "Editors' Choice
A "Kirkus "Best Book of 2005
A 2005 "SLJ "Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
"What sets this novel apart is the brilliant, insightful, suffering but enduring voice of Miles Halter." --"Chicago Tribune"
"Funny, sad, inspiring, and always compelling." --"Bookpage"
"Stunning conclusion . . . one worthy of a book this good." --"Philadelphia Enquirer"
"The spirit of Holden Caulfield lives on." --"Kliatt"
"What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska's vanilla-and-cigarettes scent." "Kirkus," starred review
"Miles's narration is alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor, and his obvious struggle to tell the story truthfully adds to his believability. Like Phineas in John Knowles's A Separate Peace, Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light, that readers mourn her loss along with her friends." --"SLJ," starred review
..".Miles is a witty narrator who manages to be credible as the overlooked kid, but he's also an articulate spokesperson for the legions of teen searching for life meaning (his taste for famous last words is a believable and entertaining quirk), and the Colonel's smarts, clannish loyalties, and relentlessly methodological approach to problems make him a true original....There's a certain recursive fitness here, since this is exactly the kind of book that makes kids like Miles certain that boarding school will bring them their destiny, but perceptive readers may also realize that their own lives await the discovery of meaning even as they vicariously experience Miles' quest." --"Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books," starred review
"Readers will only hope that this is not the last word from this promising new author." --"Publishers Weekly"
"John Green has written a powerful novel--one that plunges headlong into the labyrinth of life, love, and the mysteries of being human. This is a book that will touch your life, so don't read it sitting down. Stand up, and take a step into the Great Perhaps."
--K.L. Going, author of "Fat Kid Rules the World," a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Bookshow more

About John Green

John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of "Looking for Alaska," "An Abundance of Katherines," "Paper Towns," "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" (with David Levithan), and "The Fault in Our Stars." His many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. He has twice been a finalist for the "LA Times" Book Prize. John was selected by "TIME" magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. With his brother, Hank, John is one half of the Vlogbrothers (youtube.com/vlogbrothers), one of the most popular online video projects in the world. You can join the millions who follow John on Twitter (@realjohngreen) and tumblr (fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com) or visit him online at johngreenbooks.com.
John lives with his family in Indianapolis, Indiana.show more

Review Text

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars
...show more

Customer reviews

Wow. Another stunning novel by John Green; one of those life-altering, existence revising, heartbreaking novels that only he can pull off. Since the major event in this book had already been spoiled for me, it was not as impacting as it should have been, but I was greatly affected all the same. Overall, I think it sent a great message: that you can find your way out of the labyrinth of suffering; and that itself is what makes this book so amazing. Easy 5 stars.show more

by Bryce

I was first introduced to this auther through his well known novel the fault in our stars which i have read and loved...
However, reading this-his debut novel- was an even better experience. this book also deals with loss among other things as the previous book i read of his .
Here we accompany the male lead through his journey of growth and understanding. He used to exist in his own isolated little world then decides to take a chance and go into the world, loves and looses then deals with his loss.
Even though loss is part of this experience, this story gives you a rounded exprience .so you are left, after dealing and understanding the loss, with a smile on your face.
Loved itshow more

by mona abed algani

Review:
Divided in two parts Looking for Alaska was for me actually 50% slow till somehow boring and 50% an intense, heart-broken story about friendship and fate. It talks a lot about teenagers, their young life among other teens and their developments concerning social in particular.
So the Ã??Ã?Â¢??beforeÃ??Ã?Â¢?? part which goes till exactly page 133 was surely interesting, cause I got to know every character and witnessed their daily life at Culver Creek Boarding School. Miles, who didnÃ??Ã?Â¢??t have real friends ever before, makes the experience of having some and finally does what all teens do. But this part got somehow long and tedious for me. For sure there were some nice quotes of Alaska or the Colonel but it didnÃ??Ã?Â¢??t keep me eager to read on. So once landed at the end of part one I was rewarded for the about 120 pages I read before, cause what then happened just blew me away. And I didnÃ??Ã?Â¢??t see it coming. The remaining 80-90 pages were read in a high speed because it was so different to the Ã??Ã?Â¢??beforeÃ??Ã?Â¢?? part in many aspects. The plot twist, the atmosphereÃ??Ã?Â¢?Ã??Ã?Â¦it even felt like the writing changed. It got profound and philosophical so finishing this felt like a learning process the way we experience it more often with John Green books.
I honestly had no specific relation to the characters first. They were in some way neutral to me. TILL the Ã??Ã?Â¢??afterÃ??Ã?Â¢?? part as you might guess. The Colonel showed facets of himself, I was surprised of in a positive way and Alaska got more special to me the more she left secrets behind. Miles however was thoughtful throughout the book, which was interesting but not too fascinating.
What I really liked about those teenagers was how they stick together and integrated Miles, when he was the new guy. Even though they are all quite different, they found a way to respect each other and hold on to their own believes and interests.
In my mind, the book could have been even shorter. For me especially the second part was dominant and succinct and this part is unfortunately shorter than the Ã??Ã?Â¢??beforeÃ??Ã?Â¢?? part.
Looking for Alaska was a good read but it didnÃ??Ã?Â¢??t live up to the expectations I have when I pick a John Green book up. (not according to the rave of many readers) ItÃ??Ã?Â¢??s an ordinary though dramatic story which sets you thinking about the simple things in life. I have now read four books of John Green and think that might be enough.
Rating: Ã??Ã?Â¢??Ã??Ã?Â¢??Ã??Ã?Â¢??Ã??Ã?Â¢??Ã??Ã?Â¢?? 3 of 5 starsshow more

by Isabel Lazarovici

So I should start by saying, another terrific read from John Green! He is definitely a fantastic writer. I have never written a review but couldn't resist with this one.
Everything about this story is so honest and raw. The characters are all well developed and definitely reflect the inner feelings and emotions we suffer and experience every day.
The story of Alaska was definitely tragic, from her self-hatred to the trail of destruction she happened to unintentionally leave behind. It reminds us all of how we can be, if not for those around us to hold us and keep us from falling apart.
Pudge to me acted as a symbol for the loneliness everyone feels, and shows the need for human interaction and love that he constantly seeks. It is without a doubt, that every one at some point, feels alone and seeks for the Greater Perhaps. He prompts us to remember the love we have around us, and to just believe we all have a greater purpose, we just need to look and find our belonging.
I just needed to express my love for this story, and would go on, but feel I have said too much to those who have yet to read in the delights of John Green.show more

by Leisa Brown

I first read this back in college, I rather liked it. Bit quirky and a lil out there but a good read. Looking forward to reading it again.show more

by KiraLee Harvey

This book is amazing and really realistic. There's not much I can really say, I just finished reading it and I was blown away!show more